Murren Via Ferrata (Klettersteig Murren)
Mountaineers and thrill-seekers can test their nerves on this one-mile trail along the cliff running from Murren to Gimmelwald. A via ferrata ("way of iron" in Italian) or Klettersteig ("climbing path" in German) is a cliffside trail made of metal steps drilled into the mountainside with a cable running at shoulder height above it. Equipped with a helmet, harness, and two carabiners, you are clipped to the cable the entire way...
...several hundred yards are literally hanging over a 2.400-foot drop. I did it, and through the most dangerous sections, I was too scared to look down or take pictures...
Why I let the Total Package read the guidebook, I will never know. He doesn't even like guidebooks, as a rule, but now he knew about the Klettersteig. Here's a photo of the pictorial map; if you double click on it, you can see that the trail is an ominous bloody red line on the cliff between Murren and Gimmelwald.
"I have to do that," he said.
I considered my options, which included a nice walk above Murren, through fields of wildflowers with stops at dairies for freshly made cheese. However, we took this trip to be together, and besides, I know I would fret during every minute he was gone. So I went, like an idiot. Or like an awesome wife, according to the Total Package.
Most of these photos will be of me, because my husband carried his phone to take photos. Here is me, approaching the trail, blithely ignorant of my fate.
At first the trail wasn't bad, just narrow, with beautiful views. We got an idea of our height, though, when we heard "woo-hoo!" and saw a parachute glide past.
You can see him out there, looking like a fingernail clipping. There were tiny towns in the valley below:
Next, we found a BASE jumping platform. BASE jumpers leap off wearing a wing suit, or parachute. The console on the tree held a radio, so a jumper can call his/her team on the ground, and say "Goodbye, cruel world!" or something like that.
After that, things just went downhill. Wait. Strike that. I don't have adjectives to describe the way things got.
"You are amazing," the Total Package said, many times. I said nothing out loud, but over and over I thought, 'the Lord is my rock and my deliverer," and promised myself that afterward, I would find that passage in the Psalms and read it all.
We crossed three gorges, two by high-wire and the last and longest by swaying, swinging Nepalese bridge.
The Nepalese bridge can be seen from the Gimmelwald cable car. As I crossed, looking at nothing but my feet, the Total Package called, "You're being photographed!" Sure enough, there was the funicular next to me, with fifty people pointing their cameras my way. I dared taking one hand off the cable to wave.
The hike lasted ten more minutes after the bridge. From Gimmelwald, a cable car takes you right back to Murren. I napped that afternoon, then opened my Bible and found that Psalm.
Psalm 18
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
6 In my distress, I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proved; he is a shield to all those who trust in him.
31 For who is God, save the Lord? Or who is a rock, save our God?
32 It is God who girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
49 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises unto thy name.
